Chile
In Latin America, the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation cooperates with the Unión de Partidos Latinoamericanos (UPLA) – a cooperation organization for center-right parties in Latin America and a member of the International Democrat Union (IDU)..
Population: 16.9 million (2011 estimate)
Area: 756 102 km2
GDP (PPP): 260 billion dollar (2010 estimate)
GDP per capita (PPP): 15 500 $ (2010 estimate)
Rate of growth: 5,3 % (2010 estimate)
Head of state and head of government: Sebastian Pinera Echenique
In 1973, the Marxist government of Chile was overthrown in a military coup led by Augusto Pinochet. Pinochet continued to rule Chile until 1990 when he was succeeded by a democratically elected president. Chile has been a prominent example of a successful Latin American economy. The business climate is one of liberalism and the conditions for investments are favorable. Chile has ratified the main conventions on human rights. The courts of law are independent of the political power and freedom of speech and freedom of press prevail.
In May 2008, the Unión de Naciones Suramericanas (Unasur) was founded. It is a union of the South American nations modelled on the EU. The union already has twelve member states, though its function is, as of yet, mostly symbolic.
In january 2010, Sebastian Pinera Echenique from Renovación Nacional (RN) was elected president.
The Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation cooperates with Renovación Nacional (RN) and Unión Democrata Independiente (UDI). Together they constitute Allianza por Chile. The next presidential and parliamentary election will take place in december 2013.
It is a stated goal of the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation to educate female decision-makers. In the autumn of 2010, the conference Empoderamiento de Mujeres took place in Honduras. The participants came from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Venezuela and the Dominican republic. Concurrently with this conference a youth conference was arranged around a Jarl Hjalmarson publication entitled “Principles for a Free Society.”
